A small handful of photos (of me) from 2009

As we sit here on the 26th day of the first January of this new decade, it feels almost unreal to reflect upon the fact that more than a month has now passed since Christmas – or, from a different perspective, that 2010 is nearly 1/12 complete!

Before this fresh year starts feeling like an old friend, I thought it would be wise to post a few photos (of myself) from 2009 that I’ve thus far not had the chance to blog about. Aside from the fact that I’ve been wanting to share these images here on Chronically Vintage since the moment they were each snapped, by posting them I will be able to clear the photo slate from last year and henceforth share snapshots from 2010 (without the lingering feeling that I should be posting ‘09’s images first).

I made a bit of a promise to myself last year that I would post images on my blog as a means of helping myself work on my self-esteem level and related issues pertaining to sharing photos of myself publicly. Prior to 2009, I’d never been able to work up the courage to post my own image online, but (happily) having finally gathered the nerve to do, I want to make sure I don’t revert to my former photo reclusive self – and what better way to ensure that doesn’t happen to put together posts just like this one?

Two of three separate days featured below are presented in mosaic form, the last entry however is not, as some of the photos taken that night were snapped in such a way as to capture my whole outfit and I didn’t want those particular images to get cropped by the photo tiling application that I use.


{My sun-kissed 25th birthday}


{Captured in the gloriously invigorating, crystal clear July light, these photos document what I was sporting fashion wise on the loveliest birthday I’ve thus far experienced as an adult. I hope they also transmit the immense joy I was enveloped in that wonderful afternoon, for my sweet husband showered me with surprises, gifts and countless reasons to smile from dawn to dusk, and truly made turning a quarter of a century old one of the most memorable days of my life.}


{An autumn evening with Madame Butterfly}


{Notes of opera swirled through this past fall, upon the discovery of a local programme which allows those under 30 years of age to purchase opera tickets a deeply discounted rate (reduced price tickets are highly limited though, so you have to try and snap them up as soon as they’re released!). As a result of learning about this, we able to take in not one, but two, absolutely splendid opera performances last year: The Nightingale and Other Short Fables (blogged about here), and Madame Butterfly.

The images above show what I wore to see the tragically, sublimely beautiful masterpiece that is Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly (I honestly cannot recommend a viewing of that opera highly enough, even to those who profess to dislike opera – it is a tale that transcends its medium and speaks directly to the heart), as well as a serenely lovely, vintage style poster for the play that I discovered online and wanted to include with this mosaic.}


{The hills were alive with the sound of theatregoers}






{It’s not every day I get to take in a live musical performance, let alone one featuring my favourite Julie Andrew’s film of all time, The Sound of Music – not mention get the chance to see such a show with someone who had never watched the movie before. Though this classic and inspiring tale is beloved the world over, my husband – who grew up in Italy – had yet to view the film and only had a vague idea of the plot.

It was with immense excitement that then that we headed off downtown to catch the show (the fact that I was wearing a new dress that I found on sale for $40, also bolstered by happiness that eve), and I’m delighted to report that we both adored it! All through the evening I sat there singing along in my head to the familiar tunes, captivated by the talented cast’s performances and the utterly magnificent prop work the show included. Though it was the first musical we’ve had the pleasure of seeing together, I sincerely hope it’s only the beginning of our mutual theatre going adventures!}


Looking at these photos of some of the days I really cherish from this past year, I can’t help but feel a bit giddy with excitement thinking of what new memories (be they of fancy nights out or more run-of-the-mill day-to-day happenings) lay ahead in the coming months of 2010.

I’m also excited (silly as it may sound to those who are much less shy than I also) about the fact that I’m gaining a bit more self-assurance when it comes to posting photos of myself. I have each and every one of you, my terrifically sweet readers and friends, to thank for this, as your supportive feedback on past photo posts have done wonders to help boost my confidence.

Many thanks for taking a quick stroll down some of the events that stood out for me last year, everybody, I can’t wait to share some of the best days of ’10 with all of you, too!

Following up on two hairstyling product questions

A few days ago I posted about the fact that my brand new, never before used set of hot rollers was acting oddly. Upon plugging it in for the first time, it began to smell quite noticeably and even emitted a tiny whiff of smoke! Apprehensive to continue heating up the set, I turned it off immediately and consulted my deeply knowledgeable readership about hot to proceed instead. Many of you offer up terrific ideas and help (including finding a contact number for the company for me), which I greatly appreciate.

I took all of your suggestions to heart and, armed with our fire extinguisher – lest the worst should happen, I tried heating up my hot roller set again (in a less draft prone part of my apartment, in case the smoke had actually been a puff of steam the first time around), and while I didn’t see in any smoke, after just a couple minutes a harsh chemical scent became instantly noticeable. I turned the set off and decided right then and there that’s its going back.

The odour that was produced just doesn’t seem normal to me, it almost smells like the rollers themselves are burning, though when I touched one, it hadn’t even gotten very warm yet (the instructions said to heat up the set for ten minutes, it was plugged in for all of about two). Yes indeed, the hot rollers are getting tucked back in their box and returned to Shoppers the very next time I need to head over there. Hopefully the next set of hot rollers I try out with work like sans any such issues!

Delving a bit further back, in September I wrote about my perpetually ongoing quest to find plastic and/or entirely nickel free bobby pins (as I’m immensely allergic to nickel). Then as with this past week, I was touched deeply to receive a slew of very helpful suggestions and ideas as to where to look for such a product (which oddly, does not seem to be mass marketed these days).

At least two of my wonderful readers provided me with eBay links to packages of plastic bobby pins (one vintage, one modern) that were listed at the time, and I’m thrilled to report that I was able to bring one of them home. (The other auction had ended before I got to it and my messages to the seller, to see if they possibly had other packages, went unanswered.)

The package of plastic bobby pins I got from eBay hails from the 1950s and contains a handful of pink plastic bobby pins that are a bit shorter and wider than the usual metal varieties. These points don’t detract from their effectiveness in the least though, and I’m happy to say they work like a charm.


{The eBay auction photo for the first set of vintage plastic bobby pins that I won there after turning to you guys for help. I love both them – and the delightfully cute backing they came on – so very much. Huge thanks for helping me find these!}

Through my own ongoing search I’ve also found another pack on eBay, which I just won a few days ago (they haven't arrived yet). These plastic hair grips are vintage as well, though they appear to be black and a little longer than the pink ones. They weren’t the cheapest things ever, but as with the other plastic vintage bobby pins I already have, I figure if I treat them with kid gloves, they should last me quite a while.

However, bobby pins by their very nature are rarely the longest lasting of items, so I’m going to keep searching eBay, etsy and elsewhere frequently for other packages (modern or vintage) of plastic grips. Having found some now though, I can’t begin to tell you how much happier my sensitive skin is! Finally I can put up my hair and not have the knowledge looming in the back of my mind that I’m going to develop a rash (contact dermatitis, to be exact). I have a number of “challenges” when it comes to styling my hair (insanely sensitive skin that makes using almost any hairstyling product impossible, my nickel allergy, super fine/thin hair, etc), but being able to banish one of them from my mind is a huge relief.

Thank you again so very much to all those who helped me in my search to find plastic bobby pins and to those who provided your very useful impute about the hot roller set. You’re all the best, and I love knowing that if and when future hair related quandaries pop up, I can turn to you!

Wishing you each a marvelous weekend – and many happy hair days of your own!

Is this normal? Question about new hot roller set

Hi my wonderful dears, just a quick question as the mister and I are heading out momentarily. I’ve been getting ready (hair, make-up, etc) to go and decided that I want to add a dose of curl to my (naturally) straight-as-an-arrow hair, so, after reading the instruction pamphlet and removing any packaging, I decided to plug in a new set of hair rollers that I recently picked up at Shoppers Drug Mart (a Canadian drug store chain).

I’d been wanting a set for ages, especially since I know some of you vintage loving gals have spoken highly of the merits of hot rollers. So having saved up enough “Shoppers Optimum” bonus points from prior purchases to be able to get a set for free (it took ages to save enough!), I recently grabbed the only version (“Solutions” by Vidal Sassoon) that the (fairly large) location I was at had on the shelf. (I couldn’t find an image of the exact model I have online, but did come across this one which looks extrememly similar.)

Today I plugged my set in for the first time and had barely had it on for two minutes when I began to notice a smell (sort of chemically) emanating from the unit. It wasn’t overpowering or enough for my husband, who was in another room, to detect from where he was, but I could definitely smell something (and not just that “hot” metallic smell that curling and flat irons sometimes get while they’re heating up). A few seconds later I thought I saw a teeny whiff of smoke, so I immediately unplugged the unit. As far as I can see it (the unit) looks entirely normal and it certainly did not feel overly warm (the instructions said to plug it in for ten minutes before using and there’s no way I’d had it on for any more than three minutes), so I was a bit baffled as to why it might smell.

I’ve never owned a set of hot rollers before and have no prior experience with them, so my question to all of you who’ve used this kind of styling product is, is it normal for your hot roller unit to smell the first time you plug it and heat it up?


{Just longing for soft vintage curls like the ones Ann Sothern sports here, I’m not trying to start a five alarm blaze with my new hot roller set! Gorgeous image via Myvintagevogue’s Flickr stream.}


As we’ve got to get going in a matter of minutes, I just turned off and unplugged the unit and figured I’d ask my question before attempting to heat up the set of hot rollers up a second time. (I looked all over the box and through the instructions, but could not find a 1-800 number anywhere to call and ask the manufacturer directly.)

I don’t want to risk starting a fire, so before I try turning my hot roller set on again, is it normal for them to emit a bit of an odour the first time or do I have a defective unit that should be returned?

Huge thanks in advance for your thoughts and insight on this matter, everyone. I hope you’re each having a marvelous Sunday evening!

Can you help me find plastic bobby pins?

One of the single most important – fundamental really – components to creating a true plethora of vintage hairstyles is the humble, time-honored bobby pin. In the days before every pharmacy, beauty counter, and hair salon was jam packed with more styling products than you could shake a curling iron at, bobby pins were one of the most important items in a women’s hairstyling arsenal.

Goodness knows I adore these simple metal grips (and the beautiful packages vintage examples often came complete with), however, I fear the relationship is not one of mutual adoration.

The issue lies deeper than with bobby pins themselves, it rests in a particular metal by the name of nickel. Yes, like many amongst us, I am allergic to nickel. And by allergic I mean ridiculously, insanely, have to avoid nickel like the plague lest I develop a horrid case of contact dermatitis within a matter of minutes (of coming in contact with a nickel containing product) allergic.

Nickel, sadly (for myself and others with a sensitivity to it), appears in countless metal items. It is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and easy to blend into alloys with other metals. Over the years I’ve gotten pretty good at knowing when and where to avoid coming in contact with nickel, and I’ve developed ways to get around using a lot of nickel based items (or finding nickel-free alternatives to them). However there are a few nickel items that don’t seem to have a ready alternatives, one of them being bobby pins.

Though the skin on my scalp is a bit tougher than say that on my neck or arms, if I wear metal bobby pins for even just an hour, I almost always start to develop a red itchy rash(thankfully my hair hides this though!). Yet in order to achieve many different hairstyles, bobby pins really are a key element, and so I’m steadfastly determined to find a either a metal-free alternative or a metal based one that does not contain nickel. I’ve been on this hunt for a number of years and in that time I have only ever found one product that fit the bill.

One delightful day while browsing etsy I chanced upon a seller (Vintage Goodies) who had a package of plastic bobby pins for sale! Once I picked my stunned jaw up off the floor and realized that for the first time ever my keyword search for “plastic bobby pins” had actually yielded a true match, I couldn’t purchase the pins fast enough. (Since finding these pins, shown below, I’ve searched up and down for info on vintage “Magic Grip” pins, but haven’t found anything out. Have you ever heard of this brand before?)


I got them for a song (making the find all the more fantastic!) and though they are clearly a few decades old, I can happily report they work well. I use them with kid gloves (so to speak); the plastic they’re made of has held up well, but you can clearly feel that that it doesn’t have the strength or resiliency of metal. As such I’ve taken to using only a few of my dearly prized Magic Grip bobby pins at a time – and only on days when it’s imperative that I sport a hairdo requiring the use of bobby pins.

I know that chances are that no matter how careful I am with these precious plastic pins, over time they’ll break, the cat might somehow steal one, I might lose a few...you know, just like with regular metal bobby pins. Finding this one package of pins was truly awesome, but the simple truth is that I need a viable alternative to pins containing nickel that I can use without having to treat them like they’re my last bottle of water in the middle of an arid desert.

Internet searches, real world searches (malls, craft stores, beauty and hairdressing supply shops, drugstores, etc) and asking every hairdresser I’ve come in contact with since I was a child have all left me empty handed (save of course for the one pack of Magic Grips). Yet, I have this distinct feeling that plastic bobby pins must exist...somewhere.

My dear readers, in my ongoing search I am turning to you. Have you ever encountered – or do you know of a modern day source for – plastic bobby pins?

By this I mean a plastic version of the standard metal type. Not decorative clips (pretty or fun as they may be), oversized plastic hair pins such as the type sometimes used to achieve a French roll, heavy-duty Scunci brand grips (which are a bit big to be discretely used for some styles, though they are probably the closest thing to a solution thus far), or enamel coated metal pins. Alternatively, a brand of metal bobby pins that is guaranteed to be completely nickel-free would be A-OK, too! (I live in Canada, but have no qualms with buying online if such an item happens to hail from a US or international source.)

This quest to find plastic pins is extra important to me because I happen to have ludicrously sensitive skin in general. As a result there are literally only two or three brands of (organic, sulphate-free, dye-free, perfume-free, etc) hair care products that I can use without, again, breaking out in an unpleasant and very itchy rash. I don’t say this to sound negative, but only because it means that as a result I have very few styling products at my ready (Cliniderm hairspray has proven to be the "safest" solution for my ultra sensitive skin I’ve found so far), making most hairdos even trickier for my bone-straight, ultra fine hair to achieve. Finding a nickel-free alternative to bobby pins would be like opening up a whole new realm of hair styling possibilities to me.

I thank you each for reading this post; I hope I didn’t bore you to tears! I would be greatly appreciate for any light you could help me shed on the search for plastic or nickel-free metal bobby pins, and am in turn more than happy to help any of you hunt down items that may be alluding you.

Humongous heartfelt thanks in advance, everybody!

Pretty Link Roundup {August 23, 2009}

Both my husband I have been in rather desperate need of new eyeglasses (or more accurately stronger prescriptions for our lenses) for a while now, so this week – on different days – we each found time to squeeze in an appointment with the optometrist. Darling husband got an absolutely fantastic pair of Ray Ban frames! They have the most amazing pattern on the arms, it has the appearance of the wood grain on a classic Edsel station wagon, and is so delightfully vintage looking I almost squealed with glee when he selected that set of frames in the shop.

I already have frames that I’m wild about so I got new lenses put into them, but while there I grabbed some prescription sunglasses – a first for me (I’ve only been wearing glasses for two and a half years), as they were one sale (lenses plus frames) for more than half off. Had it not been for the sale, I never would have contemplated it. But being nearsighted I felt that being able to see clearly outdoors even on the sunniest days would be wonderful (not to mention a safety conscious) boon, so I selected a classic looking pair of DKNY frames in an elegant tortoise shell pattern that (if I may so myself) goes wonderfully with my fair skin and red hair.



{How fantastic is this stylish young gal sporting her fierce cat eye glasses? Off the charts fantastic! While neither my specs or sunglasses are this pointed on the ends, they do have a somewhat similar feminine and curvy shape to them. Photo via suz1212’s Flickr stream.}


I know that not everyone adores wearing glasses, but – and this could be due in part to the fact I love my perfectly pink-plum hued pair of shades that somehow work just like a neutral and have yet to clash with anything I’ve worn – I don’t mind in the least. Of course I wish I had perfect eye sight, but I figure that considering that I don’t, it’s wise to make the best of the situation and embrace my “second set of eyes”. I’ve always thought that glasses were beautiful and fancied how they looked on both gals and gents, so when at the beginning of 2007 when I started to need them myself, I was as happy as one can be upon learning their eyesight isn’t stellar any more. I mulled this over and realized that part of the reason is because I’m super (I really do mean beyond extremely!) allergic to nickel, which means that I often have to avoid metal jewelry. However, my glasses (and now sunglasses) have plastic frames, so I can wear them without having to worry about keeping my skin from freaking out.

On a totally different note, something else that absolutely brightened my week was when I found out that Chronically Vintage had been the given a beautiful write-up on the blog Buttercup Bungalow, including a mention of a recent link in last week’s pretty link roundup about Bride.com’s piece on ten ways to add a dose of Mad Men style to your wedding. I’m utterly touched to be featured on this wonderful site and sincerely thank Buttercup Bunaglow for writing about Chronically Vintage.

A slew of delightful and diverse links make up this week’s roundup. From choosing the right shade of red lippy based on your skin tone to how to dress yourself (if you’re chap) – or the gentleman in your life – in impeccable 50s style, these fun and informative vintage themed links are bound to contain something that will catch your interest.


♥ ♥ ♥


* 10 Muppets and their Mad Men counterpoints: Discovered via my friend A Rambling Fancy’s great blog comes a humorous post on Flavourwire.com that compares ten different Muppets characters to their Mad Men counterparts. I chuckled all the way through – so much fun! :)


* Co-ordinating your various online shops: A handy entry on the subject of ensuring your assorted online stores (be they devoted to vintage, craft related, fashion, etc) are all able to sync up, from a woman who's been selling and collecting vintage wear for the better part of three decades.


* I Want Candy (part 1): Giulia shares some of her favourite candies and sweet treats (such as Nutella, a definite fave at our house, too!), including a selection of scrumptious candies that have been around for ages.


* How to Look Smart & Stylish (Men): A detailed, thorough and interesting article on the subject of how to ensure you (or your favourite fellow) always look handsomely and smartly dressed in true 1950s style.


* Betty Grable hair: Queens of Vintage delves into the strikingly gorgeous “peak-a-boo” hairstyle that Betty Grable made famous in this post, which includes step-by-step tips (and photos) from the beautiful Amanda Newsum on how to achieve this iconic style yourself.


* Pigtail fad (1940s): Frank of Bulldog Vintage traces the popularity of pigtails amongst adult women during the 1940s, which he feels can be linked back to the bow adorned pair Judy Garland sported in the Wizard of Oz.


* How to pick the right red lipstick for your skin tone: A lovely and useful post chocked full of tips on how to help ensure you select the best shade of red lipstick for your own skin tone.


* The Vintage Princess Phone: Natasha shares some beautiful photos – and a vintage ad – of one of my absolute dream “wish list” items: a pink princess phone! A must visit post for anyone who also loves this classic telephone (in any colour).


* Older is wiser: While not necessarily vintage themed, this superb post highlights a number of middle aged and older actresses (such as Julie Christie, Sophia Loren, Blythe Danner, and Isabella Rossellini ) who are shinning proof of timeless beauty and grace at all ages.


* Fall essentials: This week has been like a glamorous fashion show from the past over at Tales from a Retro Modern Housewife, as she’s compiled a series on different pieces that can help ensure your vintage wardrobe is in tip-top shape for autumn. The posts cover pencil skirts, blouses, wide legged pants, sweaters and light jackets, and fall accessories, and are a must read for vintage fashionistas everywhere.


This week I’m bestowing the Your Blog is an Inspiration award on a truly gorgeous site that I just discovered a few days ago, by the name of GirlWhimsy.



Though this blog is new to me, it’s already become a colour-filled favourite. Packed to the rafters with a diverse array of stunning, diverse, often adorable vintage themed images from various decades, this blog full pure, fabulous, endearing eye candy. Thank you for the marvelous inspiration your blog fills me with, Debbie. I love what you are doing on your pages!


On the video clip front, the focus is on Rosie the Riveter this week. We're channeling Rosie's trademark look via a hairstyle inspired by this American WW2 icon, care of the talented Iris of All the girlie things. Use this handy step-by-step tutorial to master a classic Rosie inspired look in mere minutes.


{The Rosie Quickie}




Can you believe, my dears, the August is dwindling down so quickly? Sure, I’ve bemoaned the heat at times (goodness knows it has been on the rather stifling side this month!), but when all is said and done, I truly do love so many aspects of this toasty, copiously sunny season – and will be able to enjoy it even more now thanks to me beautiful new sunglasses.



{Yes, summer can be harsh at times, but until this duel climate, Jetson inspired world becomes a reality, it's probably just best to make peace with whatever season you're in at the moment. Illustration via What Makes the Pie Shops Tick?'s Flickr stream.}


Not too sure what life has on the agenda for me that’s noteworthy this week, but whatever it is, and no matter how sizzling the weather, I’ll be sure to greet each day with a smile. Because, love winter as I do, when I’m outside waiting for the bus in -30°, snow pummeling me from every angle, I know I’ll be wishing like mad that it was August once again.

Wishing you each a gloriously, serene beautiful week ahead!




*PS*

If you haven’t already done so and would like to, be sure to swing by this post and enter for your chance to win an absolutely adorable, chic Alessi brand kitchen timer from Chronically Vintage and AllModern.com. All you have to do is leave a comment for your chance to be the lucky winner, but hurry, the contest ends this Tuesday night!

Pretty Link Roundup {August 16, 2009}

The air, warm and humid as the kitchen of a bustling restaurant, has been keeping us up at night and running for a third shower during the day. Sweet Ms. Stella – clearly a Canadian kitty to her very fur lined soul – has become a whiz at finding any spot in the apartment that is even a degree cooler than the rest of the house (such as at the base of the entryway door, sinks, in the “shade” of a bookcase, under darling hubby’s desk, etc). Though, despite the seemingly tropical heat, I can’t help but find myself a little more in love with summer year - or rather, with Ontario’s spin on summer (I never had a problem with the pristinely fantastic, dry as a bone ones I grew up with on the west coast).


{While the heat can certainly get under anyone’s skin after a while, there’s no denying that summer brings with it a massive dose of unparalleled beauty, too. 1950s postcard via StevenM_61’s Flickr stream.}


On Friday this blog hit its 100th post! I can scarcely believe it myself, but it’s true! Over the past four months I’ve written one hundred entries and had the most amazing time sharing in my love of everything vintage with all of you. To celebrate this milestone and also kick off the next hundred posts, I’m holding a giveaway contest in conjunction with the lovely people over at AllModern.com. Be sure to swing by yesterday’s post and enter for your chance to win an absolutely adorable, stylish Alessi kitchen timer.

On the subject of blog posts, I wanted to quickly mention – and apologize for something. In a recent post, I encouraged readers to send me your emails about vintage items that you’re on the hunt for. What I didn’t realize at the time of that post’s writing though, is that the email address I provided (in the post) is currently haywire! It doesn’t seem to working at all (“configuration issues”, according to tech-smart hubby), and so I’m dreadfully afraid that I haven’t received any emails sent to the address Jessica [at] chronicallyvintage.com whatsoever.

If you’ve recently tried to send an email to address and haven’t heard back from me, it is because I didn’t receive your message. I truly apologize about this and please ask you to resend any correspondence to my personal email address, jcangiano [at] gmail.com. Thank you for your understanding in this matter, and again, I’m very sorry if you wrote to me and haven’t heard back yet. Please forward your message and I’ll get back to you on the double!

To help keep the heat off my mind this afternoon, I’ve been diving into a pool of marvelous blogs and have put together a delightful array of wonderful vintage related links, that I hope you’ll all enjoy – and which, if you’re similarly sweltering, will aid in distracting you from the broiling heat for a while, too!


♥ ♥ ♥


* Finding Your Vintage Groove: From the always insightful Super Kawaii Mama, comes a well-written post about examining your own personal sense of vintage style and then finding ways to get the most from your chosen look. Whether you’re new to vintage dressing or a seasoned, dyed-in-the-wool pro, this article is definitely worth reading.


* Hair Inspiration: Bangs, but not Bettie Page: These days when we think of bangs (fringe) and styles of the mid-twentieth century, the hair that lined Bettie Page’s forehead often springs to mind first. However, then as in now, there were many diverse looks one could sport in the bangs department, some of which have been beautifully highlighted in this photo filled post.


* Good Housekeeping, 1955: Box Lunches Part 1: Straight from the pages of a 1950s edition of Good Housekeeping magazine, the terrific blog Haven of Home brings us a list of practical, useful tips on ensuring that lunch box monotony does not set in when you pack meals for your loved ones. (And for the second part of this article, be sure to click here.)


* Summer Travel coast-to-coast, 1949: A wonderful collection of colour images hailing from 1949 of some of the fashion styles that were popular all across American for women sixty summers ago.


* Mad Men wedding styles: From the people who bring you Bride magazine and its online sister site, Brides.com, comes a list of ten ways you can inject a beautiful dose of Mad Men inspired vintage style into your wedding day look.


* Tea Party Chic: This week Wicked Frills brings us a selection of deeply gorgeous tea party worthy vintage dresses. Just the post to inspire anyone who may have a tea – or garden – party or two still to go on their summer calendar.


* Clothes For You – A Pictorial Fashion Show 1954: I really enjoy and appreciate it when people scan (and/or type out) pages from vintage books that I might otherwise have never gotten the chance to see or learn about. Such as in this post which takes a look at the 1954 book “Clothes For You” by Mildred Graves Ryan and Velma, a title that dealt with helping to ensure young women of the time were as fashionable as possible. Along with snippets of text, this post includes some very chic photos showing exactly what ladies of the day were sporting from the pages of that book.


* Not circle skirting – The origins of the circle skirt: Here’s Looking Like You, Kid digs into the humble origins of one of the most iconic looks of the 50s, the circle skirt, in this lovely and informative post.


* Fall college fashions: While the telltale nip of autumn’s breeze may still be a distant dream for many, there’s no denying that summer is winding down and with its end nearing, a return to school is on the horizon for many, including college students. Travel back in time via this Sally Jane Vintage post and take a peek at some pretty collegiate appropriate styles from yesteryear.



A very dear blogging friend of mine, Cait (from in company with sparkles), recently bestowed a most lovely award upon this site (thank you so much, sweet heart!). The premise behind this accolade is that it is to be passed along to blogs which continually inspire you. To this end, the thought occurred to me that instead of simply writing one post and listing a number of inspiring blogs, I would take the spirit of this award and pass it along each weekend to one blog that never ceases to amaze and inspire me, as part of the weekly link roundup post.



There are literally countless blogs that inspire and delight me with their fantastic images, words and themes, so I see no trouble in passing along this award to a great many sites over time.

This week, I would like to bestow the Inspiring Blog award upon Tales of a retro-modern housewife, whose pages are bursting at the seams with vintage fashion, hairstyling, home decor, art and lifestyle information and photos. Retro-Modern Housewife, please feel free to pass along this award to whomever you like or simply accept it with my gratitude for the incredible inspiration your always blog provides me with.


In last week’s video clip we took a gander at elegant ladies fashions from the 1950s, this time around the focus in on the gents, in this short 1954 newsreel piece highlighting some of the latest work and sportswear men’s styles of the day.


{Men’s Fashions 1954}



♥ ♥ ♥


Before this post wraps up, I wanted to extend a heartfelt thanks to a wonderful new Flickr friend of mine, Georgianna, who recently wrote about a Chronically Vintage post in which I highlighted one of her resoundingly beautiful photos. If you’ve not had the good fortune to chance upon this lovely lady on Flickr, I really can’t encourage you enough to check out her stunning floral and nature themed photography, which is blended expertly well with artistic flourishes.


{This piece, entitled "Signs of Summer", is just one example of the dazzling, charmingly beautiful photographic work Georgianna creates.}


What have you been up to this weekend, my dears? Have you been soaking up the rays or doing your best to avoid the heat as much as possible? With many weeks of this season behind us at the point, I finally feel like I’ve hit my stride in terms of finding a happy middle ground when it comes to both embracing and contending with summer’s sizzling temperatures. Still, even if summer and I are better friends this time around, like many of us, I’m bursting at the seams with excitement just thinking about autumn’s arrival, whenever it occurs.

Wishing you each a gorgeous, serene and wonderful week ahead!




*PS*

Be sure to keep your evening free tonight, the third season of Mad Men kicks off at 10pm EST (9pm Central) on AMC!

Pretty Link Roundup {August 2, 2009}

Happy Sunday to one and all, how are you each on this second day in August? It's been an interesting weekend so far here, which kicked off with at least one (possibly more) of our fuses blowing quite entirely out of the blue (in other words abhorrent amounts of power were not being consumed at the time) late Friday night.

As we live in an apartment with, what’s I’ll tactfully call “less than stellar” maintenance, we were told that the problem couldn’t get fixed until at least mid-week, partially because they were entirely out of replacement fuses. Fortunately while two rooms and portions of others in our unit are currently without power, the fridge and stove are working, so we didn’t have to do a mad dash to buy pounds of ice in a futile attempt to keep our food from spoiling. Hopefully the issue will get fixed this week, as it rather nice to have all the rooms in your home illuminated and ready to power your electronics (including your computer!).


{While our building hails from around 1970, I could sure use some fuses at the moment whether they’re vintage, retro or modern, just so long as they fit and work! Image via HA! Designs – artbyheather’s Flickr stream.}

Aside from that, things are quite their usual selves, I’m happy to report. As you may recall, I missed compiling a weekly roundup up last weekend due to extenuating medical circumstances, and as a result pledged an even larger number of links this week. Keeping my word was a snap, as there is rarely a shortage of interesting articles to be found each week in the vintage blopsphere.

Below you’ll find posts on everything from what’s recommended if you want to get into being a pin-up model to an ode to the timelessly wonderful shirtwaist dress, plus many other fantastic topics! The video clip in the spotlight this week is a terrific how-to segment featuring step-by-step instructions for creating a beautiful vintage style starburst mirror. Enjoy these links, everyone, and be sure to share any of your favourite recent posts with me in the comment section, if you like.


♥ ♥ ♥


* Oh Nancy Drew, how I love you: Jessica over at The Cat’s Pajamas put together a truly stellar, image filed post that pays tribute to her love of one of my all-time favourite childhood series of books: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories. My mother had tons of 1950s and 60s Nancy Drew titles from her childhood, which I lapped up with intrigue and gusto as a youngster. This post brought back many lovely memories and also reminded me to keep my eyes peeled for Nancy Drew books while I’m out thrifting.

* The Lucy Fashion Chronicles 2: I love Lucy fan - and expert on the show’s wardrobe – Miss Red Lips presents the second in her ongoing series of posts about the beautiful, often very “real world” fashions that Lucille Ball sported on this classic TV sitcom.

* Cutting Your Own Bettie Bangs: The Bettie Page style of bangs has become synonymous with rockabilly culture, pinup models and vintage loving gals everywhere, yet it can be a style that’s tricky to get right (especially if your stylist has no experience with this type of fringe). If you’ve wanted to try your hand at giving yourself Bettie Bangs, be sure to swing by and bookmark this thorough, extremely handy how-to from the Lisa Freemont Pages.

* Operation Petticoat: Can’t find the right size or style petticoat that you’re looking for? No worries, Sew Retro gives you step-by-step instructions on sewing a petticoat of your own.

* Vintage shopping expert tips: Queens of Vintage present five handy tips for getting the most out of your vintage shopping experience.

* How do I get into Pin-up?: Helen from the Pin-Up Parade offer up some insightful, straightforward advice on the steps one should take if they are serious about getting into pinup modeling. All the while reminder readers that extremely few woman make a full time career out of this type of modeling, and that if you’re interested, it is best viewed as a hobby you truly love, not a million dollar job.

* Botanical Gardens: I just discovered this site a few days ago but am already smitten with it. This blog is clearly helmed by someone with passion for vintage fashion and photography, as evident by the photos of a charming young couple sporting 1920s and 30s looks, such as the ones in this shoot entitled “Botanical Gardens”, which somehow reminds me subtly of the 1937 book Out of Africa.

* A vintage swimwear guide: A suit for all body types: Another entry from Queen’s of Vintage this week, this one focused on finding vintage swimwear to suit a variety of different body types. It’s certainly handy for those may still be searching for the perfect style of swimwear to don before summer comes to a close.

* The quintessential shirtwaist dress: Vintage fashion guru Casey takes a look at one of the most time-honoured and versatile ladies wear pieces to ever be invented, the shirtwaist dress, in this lovely image bedecked post.

* Inspiration: redheads: Being of the ginger ranks myself, I couldn't possibly pass up the chance to share a post about redheads as sources of beauty and fashion inspiration! :)

* Something to look forward to I never knew existed: To say my heart skipped a beat when I read this post would be an understatement. Once I’d picked by jaw up off the ground, I knew I’d found a future dream trip! What got my motor running so? Turns out that each year a vintage music, dance and Hawaiian beach party themed festival is held in Senigallia, Italy. While I’d never heard of this event before, it’s clearly very popular and attracts a wide audience from around the world, including a certain Ms. Dita! (For more info be sure to check out a post on the wonderful blog Greetz from Tiz, as well.)

* How to get luminous skin - the vintage way: The ever-gorgeous and knowledgable expert on vintage style and beauty Fleur de Guerre, takes us through her daily skincare routine – which is filled with wonderful, old fashioned products – in this thoroughly well-written post.

* Vintage Hollywood Magazine Covers: Aileen shares a well-culled collection of absolutely lovely silent film era Hollywood magazine covers.

* Besame Mucho: Vintage Beauty with Besame Cosmetics: Via the Debutant Clothing blog I discovered a terrific article that Sandra recently held with CEO and president of Besame Cosmetics, Gabriela Hernandez. For those who may not be familiar with Besame products yet, they're a fabulous make-up company that creates a wealth of cosmetics that have been deeply influenced by vintage make-up and packaging design.

* Summer Suiting: Millie Motts has a nice little post comprised of black and white fashion magazine pages about yesteryear mens summertime suits.

* Red Lipsticks: Handy, easy to remember tips and tricks to getting your red lip stick look just right, from the pages of Mademoiselle Guillotine’s blog.

* How to carry a purse and wear gloves like a lady: Scans from a 1968 etiquette book reveal the secrets behind how a lady should sport gloves and carry her handbag, in this post from Couture Allure. (Be sure to check out some of her other recent posts as well, as she’s scanned various other pages from the same book as well. And for even more fantastic glove etiquette tips, be sure to pop by this lovely post on Rosina Lee’s blog.)

* Fashion Photography 1920 – Edward Steichen: A strikingly elegant, artistic array of 1920s Edward Steichen photographs compose this gorgeous, image laden post from Glamour Daze.

* Collectors Weekly: This site recently came to my attention and I thought it was definitely worth mentioning as it features an array articles on various topics pertaining to vintage fashion.


This week the video taking centre stage revolves around a super handy tutorial from Thread Banger on how to make your own 1950s style starburst mirror. I was impressed with how incredibly easy this clip makes crafting one of these iconic home decor elements look, and must say that I’d love to give creating one a try myself someday.


{Atomic Starburst Mirror, 50s Decor it Yourself}




It’s currently nearing mid-afternoon and the while the temperature has put on the breaks a smidge and the sky is veering more towards faded grey denim than sparkling blue and sunny, it’s still very much summer here! (Just ask my precious little cat Stella, who’s taken to lounging on the bathroom tiles and in the tub so that her flurry body can lay atop something cool to the touch.)

I’ve got oodles of laundry to fold this afternoon, emails to catch up on, letters to write (I adore – and have never stopped – penning good old fashioned “snail” mail), and several days worth of blog feeds to dive into before I whip up a lovely Sunday supper this evening. What plans are on your agenda today – and this for the coming week, sweet dears?



{A casually dressed young woman, who was training to be a pilot at the time in the Women's Flying Training Detachment, writes a letter home in this 1943 Life Magazine photo.}


However you spend your Sunday, I truly hope it’s a relaxing, joyful one for you!

Packaging makes perfect: vintage bobby pins

In an era of gift wrapping rooms, designer shopping bags, and Ikea-meets-Mac box streamlined packaging, it might seem that we’re spoiled for riches when it comes to the decor that surrounds the goods we purchase, give, receive and pine for. On one hand there is an element of truth to this, yet there is little denying the by-and-large, the artistic style (fonts, images, slogans, etc) that comprise the wrappings on modern items is far cry different from that of the past.

As an avid fan of vintage and antique design, I’ve decided to start a series of posts (that will sprout up from time-to-time) about some of my favourite types of vintage packaging and the products they were created to showcase.

For this introductory “Packaging Makes perfect” post, I’ve opted to highlight the exceedingly pretty paper cards on which bobby pins were sold during the mid-twentieth century.

While bobby pins (or hair grips, as they are sometimes known outside of North America) are can readily be found at most any drug store or shop that sells hair accessories, their use nowadays is not as common as it once was. In order to achieve a majority of the hairstyles – from simple to highly intricate – of the 1920s through to the 1960s, bobby pins were called into play. Interestingly, these simple metal hair grips took their name from the fact that they were used to help ladies of the twenties keep their “bobbed” hairstyles in place.

Fundamental to achieving many vintage hairstyles, bobby pins were used prolifically through the middle of the last century (in the days before the myriad of styling products we have today were available) and are subsequently often utilized today to achieve many vintage up-dos, rolls, curls and other lovely looks. Though WW2 metal rations sometimes made bobby pins harder to come by during the war years, even then most women were able to find some of these humble little hair grips.

While they were sometimes sold in metal tins, just as with modern day versions, vintage bobby pins frequently came on a paper card. Though it’s not uncommon to find bobby pins in packs of fifty or more today, in the past they were often sold in lots of ten to thirty.

The paper card backs upon which the pins were tucked featured an array of lovely designs. Some used illustrations, others photos of women wearing stylish hairdos. Some were elaborately shaped so as to be cut like the shape of a part, or all, of the picture they depicted, whereas others came in more common shapes like circles, half-moons, or rectangles.

The following are a selection of vintage bobby pin packages from Flickr, all of which I think are absolutely beautiful. They’re like miniature works of art that depict so many elements of style from the 30s, 40s and 50s.


♥ ♥ ♥


{Sta-Rite brand bobby pins featuring pretty Ginny and Lou. Were these gals made up or were they real women?}



{Wearing one heck of a wiggle dress (and bullet bra!), the cute girl on this Bobbie Smith brand package is certainly ready for a night out on the town!}



{The doe-eyed, blonde beauty on this card for Flamingo brand hair grips looks like she just stepped out of Hollywood.}



{Sporting the slogan “Fits any purse”, this font and image style on this card of Victory brand bobby clips would indicate (to me at least) that it was from the 1930s or early 40s.}



{While I’m not sure I’d be swayed by the brand’s name, “Scoldy Lox”, the dainty pink rose and Good House Keeping seal of approval on this bobby pin card might win me over.}



{Simple and sweet in shades of royal blue and peachy-pink, this card from DeLong appears to have held up even better than the pins it still houses.}



{With eyebrows to match the height of the rolls in her golden blonde hair, the lovely lady on this card for Campus brand bobby pins embodies the red lipped woman of the 40s and 50s to an absolute tee.}



{Defined on this card from Curly Lox as being “hair snaps” these cleverly designed pins appear to have encircled a roll of hair to hold in neatly in place. I for one this is a splendid idea and wish that I could find hair snaps like this stores today!}



{As this photo illustrated card from 1952 for Flamingo brand bobby pins shows, it wasn’t just the front of the package that looked pretty!}

{All images above are from Flickr. Please click on an image to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}


Given the very delicate nature of paper, it’s such a joy that numerous examples of vintage bobby pin cards have survived to this day.

If you’re interested in picking up a sample or two of this delightful type of package (or to use the pins they come with – though to be honest, I would want to preserve them exactly as they are, pins and all), both etsy and eBay seem to stock a steady supply of vintage bobby pins at surprisingly reasonable prices (generally between $3 and $15 dollars). The following selection of vintage bobby pin packs are currently available on etsy.



{Gayla brand pins from 1947. $9.99 (US) from etsy seller Stella Ranae Vintage.}



{Rubber tipped hair grips produced by Solo. $3.95 (US) from etsy seller Regina’s Studio.}



{These pins appear to be very straight and simplistic in design, but no less lovely thanks to the colourful red and yellow card back they come on. $4.00 (US) from esty seller Boomerville.}



{An adorable pair of kittens grace this pack of First Prize brand bobby pins. $5.00 (US) from etsy seller Innocent Painting.}



{These hand painted bobby pins hail from the late 50s or early 60s and would be used for more ornamental purposes than their plain metal counterparts. $2.75 from etsy seller The Automat.}


The packaging on vintage bobby is a delight to behold. Full of style and whimsy, it speaks to an age of womanly beauty that many of us now strive to recreate with our own hair and wardrobe styles. Whether you want to use the actual grips themselves or not, old school bobby pin packages are an affordable way to bring a cheerful dose of vintage design art into your home.


*PS*

A terrific and inexpensive way to keep track of bobby pins and other small metal hair accessories is to store them in magnetic paper clip dispenser.

Pretty Link Roundup {June 14th}

This post began its life on Saturday, but I must confess to falling asleep quite literally with my laptop alongside me on the sofa yesterday evening. While I cannot call the day immensely exhausting from a physical standpoint, I think I was worried into slumber over money and the fact that earlier in the day darling husband and I had returned from the bank whereat we paid our income taxes in full (it’s the first time either of us has had to pay, and boy howdy, was it a hefty chunk of change to dole out in one go!).

I perked the evening up by making my (very North American-ized) version of chicken and mixed vegetable yaki udon (with perhaps what might be called a slight French hit thanks to a little pat of butter I used to enrich and thicken the sauce, of which I prefer their to be copious amounts), that hit the spot wonderfully, but I think helped lull me to dreamland as well. I awoke this morning perhaps no less consumed by thoughts of finances (story of my life for...well, ever! ;D), but ready to continue hopping to and fro among some of my favourite blogs, looking for all sorts of vintage goodness to share with you.

Immersed in an online universe centred around the bygone days of earlier times it’s tremendously hard not to shake off at least some of one’s worldly woes for a little while. Escaping to – or perhaps more aptly, peeping in on – the past is great joy of mine and a huge part of what drives my love of vintage. No matter how dreary, rough, fantastic, ordinary, strange, or “taxing” the day is, I know that the pursuit of vintage images, fashion, music, films, decor and the like will always transport my heart and soul to a relaxing place that is full of mystique, allure and beauty.


{Was life truly any less carefree in the 40s or 50s? Who’s to say for sure? One thing is certain though, the majority of magazine photo spreads – such as this jolly balloon filled beach scene – would have you believe that it was. Image via Party Perfect’s Flickr stream.}

And on that note may I present to you this week’s roundup of diverse vintage links, spanning everything from Wizard of Oz inspired red heels to movie ads from the thirties. I really hope you enjoy them!


* Quick Vintage Up-Do: Every hair style I’ve ever seen Atomic Mama sport looks nothing short of fabulous, and in this post her speedy vintage do is absolutely no exception. Be sure to check it out if you’re looking for an awesome vintage style in mere moments.

* In Praise of (Vintage) Shorts: With summer’s heat bearing down on us it’s time to shake off long pants and don some shorts. In this article Lizzie of the Vintage Traveler takes a journey through the subject of vintage shorts, complete with a lot of history and lovely images featuring these pint sized trousers.

* Bathing Beauties (Volume 2): Betsy eye for beauty, timeless style and immensely wearable pieces is a joy to behold each week in her blog posts, such as this terrific piece full of summer bathing suits that tickle her fashion fancy.

* A Return to Vintage: Some Like It Vintage observes the excellent point that in times of financial troubles and/or world crisis, a return to the art of good tailoring, investment pieces, and timelessness over quick flash-in-the-pan styles often appears on the fashion scene.

* It’s all about the Betty’s: The mid-twentieth century is peppered with marvelous stars who had more than just lovely bodies and faces in common, some of them also shared a common moniker: Betty, as highlighted in this lovely post by Darla.

* Come Fly With Me: The first time I flew on a plane I was 14, I was not entranced by the world of sky travel as a child, and I have a small pocketful of less-than-glamorous airline stories, and yet there is something so immensely appealing to me about the styles and aura that surround vintage airlines hostesses and the yesteryear world of aviation. As such I just about squealed with delight when I saw this image packed post on the subject vintage air travel from Moonspinner of Dust Jacket Attic.

* 30s Film Ads: Images of quirky, charming, and absolutely delightful black and white movie advertisements from the 1930s are on the bill in this cinema themed post.

* Hosiery Fashion Timelines: The older I get (ok, at a month shy of 25 I don’t think I’m quite out to pasture yet, but nevertheless...) the more I find myself in love with hosiery. Giddy about denier and pattern, hue and material, tights and stockings alike, it’s always a pleasure to encounter an article on the subject of this wardrobe staple, such as this lovely one from Glamour Daze.

* There’s no place like home: Arrive wearing a pair of sparkly, glitter encrusted red shoes and chances are people anywhere will instantly think of the footwear Dorthy wandered around Oz in. This fun post gathers a slew of glistening crimson heels together into one spot, making it even easier to agree “there’s no place like a shoe store!” :D

* Wardrobe Staple: Shirtdress: Teaming with photos and interesting facts (plus styling tips), this post does a wonderful job of highlighting and displaying the subtle, ageless beauty that emanates from the humble shirtdress in all its past and present iterations. (And for more on the subject of these practical yet deeply pretty frocks, be sure to see Miss Ruby La Mour’s post on the same topic.)

This week the video in the limelight comes care of LadyMakeup1, and features a handy-dandy tutorial on how to emulate the make-up style that Lucile Ball sported throughout the I Love Lucy series. So fun and adorable!

{I Love Lucy Makeup}



When you jump into the online cosmos of all things vintage, how does it make you feel? I hope that as I do, you find tranquility, enjoyment and inspiration as the days of the past do their best to make the present world better, brighter and more joyful for those of us who admire them so dearly.

10 awesome vintage related Flickr groups

It’s scarcely a secret that Flickr is one of my absolute most beloved websites in the universe. Long before I got my first digital camera and began uploading photos of my own last February, I’d been perusing its myriad of pages for a couple of years. To me Flickr is the stuff inspirational dreams are made of. From favourite photographers to the incredible results keywords can deliver, I am never bored or at a loss for creative muses when on this site.

On particularly fun way to find a bounty of images of a given subject is through Flickr groups. Being a rather eclectic soul (with more interests than you can shake a feather duster at), I’ve personally joined a ton (seriously, a ton) of them. While I cannot admit to staying abreast with the latest uploads on all of them, there are many favourites that I try to check on a frequent basis. Not too surprisingly, a good chunk of such frequently visited groups centre around a vintage related theme.

As such I thought it would be really fun to share a selection of Flickr groups – and a sampling of images from them – with you that never fail to deliver a wallop of vintage inspiration. The ten groups below are just the tip of the iceberg though, there are dozens – if not hundreds – of other groups all with a penchant for the past, just waiting for you to discover.

1930s and 1940s: Rich in everyday types of family snapshots (most of which are in black and white), this group also features some images of the era from Hollywood, magazines and popular culture.


{1. Happy Lipstick [739], 2. WWII -4, 3. 1936. Gimnáziumi kirándulás, 4. 1944. N.}


Vintage Illustration: As the name implies this group is devoted to the true art which is vintage illustration. Sporting over 2,000 members and more than 20,000 uploads to the group’s pool, this is often the first place I run to when I need a vintage ad or drawing.


{1. The winds of grace ..., 2. 1943 Parker Quink Ink (with Solv-x) Advertisement, 3. Pepsi - 19581122 Post, 4. Sunny Side 3}


Vintage hair: Loaded with more inspiration than you can shake a stick at, this lovely group is filled with photos and illustrations that have an emphasis on women’s hairstyles from days gone by, as well as lovely modern gals sporting vintage dos.


{1. Movie Classic Magazine cover, Myrna Loy, 2. Untitled, 3. HTMUSAMI_1948F002, 4. flapper2}


Vintage Clothing: This group is (primarily) for photos of modern folks decked out in vintage attire. Though you may have to wade through the group’s pool a little bit to find mid-century looks, but there are still plenty of these sorts of styles there to help inspire your own wardrobe.


{1. Playful, 2. Jacques Fath for Halpert 50s dress, 3. Kaila in her grandmother's dress., 4. The Girl Can't Help It.}


Vintage shoes: Whether its pumps, flats, oxfords or sandals, you’re sure to find oodles of beautiful and diverse vintage shoes among this group’s many photos.


{1. 1940's Kedettes, 2. 1940's shoes, 3. shoes, 4. 1950s chocolate brown nubuck pumps}


Vintage Pinup: Bursting with vintage pinup photos and illustrations, as well as shots of modern ladies in pinup styles, this group is a terrific spot for both eye-candy and inspiration.


{1. It's a Snap (Pretty Snappy. Snap Judgment), 1958 GIL ELVGREN, 2. IMG_5408.tea.L, 3. Modern day Pin up, 4. Josie Raven}


Fabulous Fifties Heaven (1950 – 1959): Celebrating all things fifties, this group teams with vintage advertisements, photos and illustrations that convey the wide-eyed optimism, suburban lifestyle and marvelous fashions that ruled the decade.


{1. Bell Telephone System Ad, 2. Armstrong Flooring Ad, 3. Family Circle - August 1955, 4. Coca Cola - 19581122 Post}


From Kitchen Past – The Vintage Kitchen: From Pyrex to aprons, turquoise hand mixer to ads for counter tops and furniture, this group is jam packed with a wonderful assortment of photos and illustrations relating to old school kitchens.


{1. Kitchen Curio, 2. 1950's Kitchen, 3. Vintage Sifter, 4. Glimpses of my kitchen}


Vintage Cookbooks: From timeless classics to recipes that should probably never have seen the light of day, amongst the many pages of this charming group’s pool you’ll find scads of vintage illustrations and photos pertaining to the culinary arts.


{1. Jack Benny Jell-O Pamphlet '30's:), 2. frontispiece, 3. Sunkist Recipes for Every Day, 4. Kellogg's All-Bran Ad}


Wedge Heels & Wartime – Forties in Print: Chronicling illustrations and advertisements from the twentieth century’s fourth decade, this group has more than 1,500 uploads to inspire and entertain you with (I’m especially fond of the amazing fashion styles one sees in such images).


{1. True Story October 1941, 2. koala-paca 1944, 3. Modern Beauty Shop - March 1944, 4. Harper's Bazaar 1942}

{To visit an individual image, click on the corresponding link below each collage.}

Putting together these mosaics and scanning through a bevy of amazing vintage images has kicked started my Thursday off the cheeriest of notes! To keep that sort of happy feeling going, I’m always looking for new places to source inspiration from and would love to know what some of your favourite vintage related Flickr groups are.